Ryder captaincy not tainted by Monty - McGinley

Paul McGinley does not believe that Colin Montgomerie will be a lame duck Ryder Cup captain despite accusations of cheating.

The Dubliner, who is a serious candidate for the captaincy at Gleneagles in 2014, defended the Scot to the hilt after this week's sensational attack by fellow Scot Sandy Lyle.

McGinley said: "I don't think what's been said will diminish the Ryder Cup captaincy in any way. I think Monty will be an excellent captain and he will have the respect of all of the players. And he will make a lot of really strong, good decisions.

"What was said is disappointing and Sandy is a nice guy who we all like. I am sure he really regrets it. But I have no comment to make on what Sandy said. Sandy's Open is over and Monty’s Open is over because of talking to the press. So you can understand when guys clam up.

"I don't want to get drawn into it or give my opinion on it. All I will say is that Monty has got my full support as captain of the next Ryder Cup team."

McGinley is hoping to concentrate on getting back to form at Turnberry, where he feels his straight-hitting style can pay off.

And the Dubliner firmly denied that he has become Mr Angry on the golf course because his results have been bitterly disappointing over the past 12 months.

He said: "I am not an angry person. Not at all. I am certainly frustrated because I feel I am playing so much better than my results.

"I really don’t think that tenseness is what’s holding me back. But I could certainly do with an injection of confidence. That doesn’t come from just waking up and thinking I am confident today.

"It is big performances that make or break your year - three or four weeks that make or break your year - and it doesn’t matter where they come as long as they come.

"There is nothing wrong with my game but my confidence is not what it should be or can be. It is hard to be confident when I have had as poor a year as I have had this year. I haven’t had any momentum."

Down to 200th in the world, the Dubliner is delighted that the big hitters will not have the upper hand this week.

And he's hoping that the hard work he has been doing on his short game and putting with former tour player Mark Roe will pay dividends.

He said: "I am working on my short game and putting really held me back last week. I didn’t have a three putt. I am not yipping them or hitting bad putts, I just need to make more putts. That’s the bottom line.

"I am really not panicking and it might not look like I am enjoying the game, but I am. What could be better than playing in a British Open in weather like this. This is what it is all about.

"I have a huge passion for the game but my love for the game is stronger now than it has ever been. I am a little with frustrated with the way the game has gone over the last few years, moving away from the game that I play.

"Having said that, Major championships move back into my arena again - straight off the tee, course set up and course management."

McGinley set for Ryder Cup call

The Dubliner, 43, will be named as one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains for October’s clash with the US at Celtic Manor. And while that will strengthen his bid to become the first Irish Ryder Cup captain at Gleneagles in 2014, he could get his chance sooner than he thinks.

McIlroy wants McGinley not Monty as skipper

Rory McIlroy was impressed by Paul McGinley’s captaincy of GB&I in the VivendiSeve Trophy and wants to play under the Irishman in Gleneagles in 2014.World No 1 Rory McIlroy has unequivocally called on the European Tour Players Committee to resist any temptation to hand Colin Montgomerie (or any ohter past captain) the Ryder Cup captaincy and again called for Ireland’s Paul McGinley to be handed the job of leading Europe’s defence at Gleneagles in 2014.

It’s the umpteenth time in the space of 10 weeks that Europe’s leading player has made it clear that he wants McGinley to be handed the captain’s armband. This time, in the wake of growing murmurs that his 2010 skipper might be considered for a second bite of the cherry, he went a step further this time.